Water line breaks adding up for Columbus

Water line breaks since the beginning of the year have cost Columbus ratepayers hundreds of
thousands in overtime costs and emergency repair contracts.

From Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, the city paid out $262,379 in overtime, according to the city's
utilities department. The number of OT hours earned, including comp time: 8,169.

The city has also paid two contractors another $202,960 for emergency repairs since Jan. 8. And
many invoices for work still have to be submitted.

It's been a brutal winter for the city's aging system. Eleven days ago, the city had 106 working
breaks, utilities director Greg Davies told Columbus City Council on Monday. On Tuesday, the number
was down to 44, including 27 main line breaks, 14 service line breaks and three valve leaks.